November 23rd

We spent a still and increasingly sunny morning ringing on the Marsh south of the railway and saw a good range of species including 5 Mute Swans, 3 Yellowhammers, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Grey Partridge, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 25 Corn Buntings, 500 Cormorants, 1 Kestrel, 30 Chaffinches, 2 Fieldfares, 2 Snipe, 140 Golden Plover, 29 Tree Sparrows, 1 Sparrowhawk, 25 Reed Buntings, 1 Chiffchaff, 8 Pink-footed Geese with 1 adult White-fronted Goose flying S, 1 Peregrine and 1 Grey Heron.

Birds ringed 27: Chiffchaff 1, Wren 1, Lesser Redpoll 1, Reed Bunting 13, Linnet 1, Chaffinch 4, Song Thrush 2, Blackbird 4.

Lesser Redpoll

Derek Smith was also out this morning between 0800 and 1230 and walked from Shuart, along the embankment and on to Plumpudding. He counted 90 Lapwings, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Merlin flying E along the coast, 65 Fieldfares W, 30 Redwings W, 1 Grey Wagtail, 9 Tree Sparrows, 2 Stonechats, 5 Redpoll W, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff and 9 Goldcrests.

This afternoon Matt walked form Reculver to Coldharbour and recorded 5 Stonechats, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 200 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Wigeon, 110 Golden Plovers, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 5 Short-eared Owls, 7 Snipe, 2 Curlews, 15 Corn Buntings, 3 Little Egrets and 1 Common Buzzard.

Red-breasted Mergansers - Matt Hindle

Short-eared Owl - David Elliott